Social is a far cry from the tatty pub it replaced. Despite some near-cliché hip elements—yet another Hemingway drinking quote on the wall—this 118-seat dinner destination surprises with sophisticated cooking behind a menu deep with enticing dishes. When pressed for a category, Jeffrey Boullt, the executive chef who has lived and worked in several states, settles for Progressive American with Southern influences.

Event Calendars

O.C. abounds with restaurants eager to pamper couples looking for a special night out. Katherine Nguyen offers seven suggestions for date-night destinations, from casual Kettlebar to sumptuous Studio at the Montage.

More Life in O.C.

Just across the freeway from downtown San Juan Capistrano, Marbella Plaza offers top-notch restaurants and an upscale boutique, each with a distinct style and vibe, away from the hustle and bustle of the historic district.

Recent Articles

It’s not too late join me at the 15th Annual World of Pinot Noir, Friday and Saturday at the Bacara Resort & Spa in Goleta, a few miles from Santa Barbara. Tickets are still available for many of the events. The affair brings pinot noir producers together with more than 2,000 enthusiasts for a weekend […]

Newport Coast shopkeeper feeds a passion for collecting

Two minutes with Susan Shieldkret and it’s clear she named her store, The Passionate Collector, for herself. After years of volunteer work and raising two children, Shieldkret, 64, began collecting unusual pieces on her travels and selling them at fundraisers and out of her home. In 2008, she opened a store on Balboa Island, followed […]

Keeping a centuries-old tradition alive

For the past 13 years, Monica Esparza has been crafting Spanish guitars in her San Clemente shop. “I do everything but chop down the tree,” she says. After taking a guitar-making class 15 years ago at Orange Coast College, Esparza sought a spot in a highly competitive workshop taught in Spain by famed luthier Jose […]

We don’t generally post press releases, but this is too good not to share with our readers! News release pasted below with no edits by our staff. You go, Digital Media Director Lyssa Myska Allen! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE LA KISS makes History with First Female to tryout for team as Third tryout in 2015 is […]

A partnership between a family business and local artisans wows the senses

It started with a love for candles. Company founder Sharie Hendricks always had them burning in her home when guests would visit. In 2003, with the help of her husband, Clarence, a marketing photographer, she launched Laguna Candles. Her aim was to produce and sell clean-burning candles made from a soy blend. “Most candles, especially […]

Laetitia Vineyard & Winery has the largest privately owned plantings of pinot noir in California, comprising 434 acres that overlook the Pacific Ocean in the cool coastal region of southern San Luis Obispo County. This pinot noir-focused winery consistently produces one of California’s best value-priced, sustainably produced and estate-grown pinot noirs. Winemaker Eric Hickey began […]

Fullerton’s Gary Mathis builds his saddles using custom trees (frames), then works the Grade-A hides with hand tools, creates the silver conchos, and cuts and stitches the horn covering from a single piece of leather. Q: Who buys a $12,000 saddle? A: Somebody who rides for hours at a time, not somebody who spends a […]

Proprietors Greg and Barbara Hill divide their time between family who live in south Orange County and Anderson Valley in Mendocino County. In 1999, they bought a small ranch from the Pinoli family in Philo, close to well-known wineries including Goldeneye, Husch and Roederer Estate. They rebuilt one the valley’s oldest farmhouses, which became their […]